A computer hacker has broken into a database containing student and employee Social Security numbers at George Mason University.

According to the Washington Post more than 32,000 people are uncertain whether their finances or identities might have been stolen. A GMU spokesman said that the database also included names, school identification numbers and photographs.

So far no-one has reported that any personal information was used inappropriately, although the university recommended that students and employees should be alert for suspicious activity on their bank and credit card accounts.

The Post said that the data was housed on computers running "Windows systems" (sic). Campus police are leading the investigation but the probe would likely include other law enforcement agencies and technical experts.